Mountable Frame for Holding Flat Panel Display and Methods of Mounting Frame for Holding Flat Panel Display

ABSTRACT

Frames suitable for mounting flat panel displays are provided. The frame is adapted to engage and secure a flat panel display. One or more flanges on at least one side of the frame are adapted to attach to sides of an opening within a console. Also provided are methods for mounting a flat panel display in a frame and mounting the display and frame assembly within a console.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/062,111, filed Feb. 18, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention relates to mountable frames for holding flat paneldisplay screens. The subject invention also relates to methods formounting frames holding flat panel display screens to facilitate viewingof the screen.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Video displays are ubiquitous features in homes, businesses, and publicspaces, and are primarily used to provide a visual presentationgenerated by, for example, personal computers, electronic kiosks, orvideo games and the like. Video displays are often installed within ahousing, particularly if the video display is to be used in connectionwith, for example, console casino games such as video poker. Untilrelatively recently, most video displays have been of the cathode raytube (“CRT”) type, which employs an elongated glass vacuum tube whereinthe length of the tube is proportional to the surface area of thedisplay screen. Thus, when using a CRT display, the larger the desireddisplay screen, the longer the CRT and the deeper the housing requiredto hold and protect the CRT. As such, one problem associated with theuse of CRTs in consoles is the inordinately large size required of theconsole to house the CRT. Another problem is the relatively large amountof electricity required to power a CRT.

One way console manufacturers have solved the problems associated withuse of CRTs in consoles is by using flat panel displays in place ofCRTs. Traditionally used in laptop computers, console manufacturers areincreasingly using flat panel displays, such as liquid crystal displays(“LCD”), plasma, and field emission display (“FED”), as video displayswithin consoles. Flat panel displays have the advantage of providing asuitable video display within a housing of relatively shallow depth, aswell as requiring less power than a CRT. Flat panel display technologyhas made possible the installation of relatively small counter-topgaming machines, which typically further include a touch screen thatallows a user to interact with the video display screen instead of usingphysical keys or buttons.

While the advent of the flat panel display has made it possible forconsole manufacturers to use a lighter-weight and thinner display withinthe consoles, mounting the flat panel display within a console housinghas been a continuing problem. Most flat panel displays areintentionally designed to have as little extraneous material as possiblein order to maintain the typical slim profile of the flat panel display.This quality of the flat panel display, however, renders directattachment of it to the console difficult due to the small amount ofavailable area on the display housing that may be attached to theconsole housing. Unfortunately, many or most commercially available flatpanel displays do not further include structures that allow them to beeasily mounted within a console. Consequently, console manufacturershave encountered difficulty when attempting to mountcommercially-available flat panel displays within console housings.There is a demand, therefore, for a device to mount a flat panel displaywithin a housing regardless of the size of the flat panel display. Therealso exists a demand for a method of installing a flat panel displaywithin a housing regardless of the size of the flat panel display. Thepresent invention satisfies these demands.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a principal objective of the present invention to provide a devicefor mounting a flat panel video display to an object. The deviceincludes a frame adapted to engageably hold a flat panel video display,wherein the frame includes a back panel having a first edge and a secondedge, the first edge being opposite the second edge. A first frame sideis attached to the first edge, and a first flange is selectivelyattached to the first frame side, a surface of the first flange beingadapted to engageably attach to an object.

In other embodiments of the invention disclose, a console assembly isprovided. The console assembly includes a console for housing a videodisplay, the console having a plurality of walls, at least one of theplurality of console walls including an opening formed therethrough, theopening being sized to display a flat panel video display therethrough.The console assembly further includes a frame assembly disposedproximate the opening. The frame assembly includes a frame adapted toengageably hold a flat panel video display, wherein the frame includes aback panel having a first edge and a second edge, the first edge beingopposite the second edge; a first frame side attached to the first edge;and a first flange selectively attached to the first frame side, asurface of the first flange being adapted to engageably attach to anobject, a surface of the first flange being adapted to engageably attachto the at least one of the plurality of console walls adjacent theopening.

Advantages of embodiments of the invention include providing consolemanufacturers with a range of flange size options to choose from inorder to provide the best overall fit of the frame and video displayassembly within the console in which it is to be housed. This benefiteliminates the need to manufacture numerous models of frames to offer alarge spectrum of flange size. Instead, standard frame sizes may beselectively outfitted with the appropriate flange size. Thus,significant savings of time and money are realized by the consolemanufacturers and the suppliers of frames for flat panel displays.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method formounting a flat panel video display within a console. A console isprovided for housing a flat panel video display, the console having aplurality of walls, at least one of the console walls including anopening disposed therethrough, the opening having adjacent surfaces andbeing sized to display a flat panel video display therethrough. A frameadapted to engageably hold the flat panel video display is provided,wherein the frame includes a back panel having a first edge and a secondedge, the first edge being opposite the second edge; and a first frameside attached to the first edge. The flat panel video display isdisposed within the frame. A plurality of selectively attachable flangesis provided, wherein the plurality of selectively attachable flangesincludes at least two flanges of different size, the plurality offlanges further includes a first portion adapted to engage the frame anda second portion adapted to engage the console. A first flange isselected from the plurality of selectively attachable flanges. The firstportion of the first flange is attached to the first frame side. Theframe is disposed proximate the opening, the second portion of the firstflange engaging the console surface adjacent the opening. In addition,the second portion of the first flange is attached to the consolesurface adjacent the opening.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will befurther understood and appreciated when considered in relation to thefollowing detailed description of embodiments of the invention, taken inconjunction with the drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the front aspect of a flatpanel display;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the rear aspect of a flat paneldisplay;

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of a flat panel display frame;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a flat panel display frame;

FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom view of a flat panel display frame;

FIG. 6 illustrates a plan view of a back side of console having a videodisplay; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a console having a videodisplay.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to mountable frames that can beadapted to engage a wide range of flat panel video displays regardlessof the size of the display. Embodiments of the present invention willfind application in all types of housings and consoles that aregenerally used to house and hold video display screens. Without limitingthe application of the scope of the invention, the following willdescribe certain preferred embodiments used in conjunction with standardLCD-type flat panel display touch-screens suitable for installingwithin, for example, a counter-top video game console.

A flat panel display 10 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A flat panel display10 will typically include a thin display screen 18 that employs one of anumber of technologies, such as, for example, LCD, plasma, and FED.However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize thatother flat panel display technologies may also be used so long as thedisplay is relatively thin as compared to CRT displays. The displayscreen 18 may be overlaid with a touch-type device, for example, a touchsensitive screen, or an equivalent device that is operatively connectedto electronics within the housing 12 for receiving and processing datareceived from the touch screen. The display screen 18 and associatedelectronics (not shown) can be housed within housing 12 or optionallymounted on the back of the housing 12. The housing 12 includes a front16, a back 17, a top side 15, two opposed sides 14, and a bottom side(not shown). The back 17 of the housing 12 typically further includesvents 20 for intake and exhaust of air used to cool the electronicswithin the housing.

The back 17 of housing 12 may also include a raised portion to form ajunction housing 22, which includes four sides 33 and a face 34. Thebottom side (not shown) of junction housing 22 may include ports fordata and power. Data and power ports for use with video displays arewell known in the art, and typically include interfaces on the exteriorside of the housing 12 for connection to external power sources(generally 12 Volt direct current) and data sources, such as a computer.Inside the housing 22, the ports are conductively coupled to therespective components designed to receive the power or data. In thisexample, port 24 is an input for a touch screen; port 26 is a two-pin 12Volt DC power socket; port 28 is a standard 12 Volt DC power socket;port 30 is a DVI input; and port 32 is a VGA input.

FIGS. 3-6 show a mountable frame and flat panel display assembly 100.The frame 105 is generally in the form of a shallow pan, which is sizedto receive a correspondingly-sized flat panel display 10 within theconfines of the pan. The frame may be constructed of any suitably rigidmaterial, such as, without limitation, sheet metal or plastic. The framefurther includes a top side 117, a bottom side 115, and two opposedsides 114. The frame 105 also includes a back 119 having a raisedportion that includes a top side 151, bottom side 154 and two opposedsides 153, which form the junction housing cover 123. The back 119 andsides 114, 115, and 117 may be formed of a separate back piece 119 thatis attached to sides 114, 115, and 117 via fasteners or welds along ornear the peripheral edges of the back 119. Alternatively, the back 119and sides 114, 115, and 117 may be formed of a single unitary piece ofsheet metal that is subsequently bent to form the overall pan structure;adjacent sides are then typically attached to one another by fastenersor welds. Flanges 140 are selectively attached to opposed sides 114respectively.

The junction housing cover 123, when viewed from the interior of theframe 105, is a recess in the back 119 of the frame 105, which ispositioned and sized to mount over a corresponding junction housing 22on the rear side 17 of a flat panel display 10. The junction housingcover 123 includes a top side 151, a bottom side 154, and two opposedsides 153. The bottom side 154 of the junction housing cover 123 mayinclude one or more holes 124, 126, 128, 130, 132 positioned and sizedto receive correspondingly positioned and sized ports 24, 26, 28, 30, 32on the junction housing 22 of the flat panel display 10, and throughwhich holes the ports may project. The junction housing cover 123 may beeither integral to the frame 105, or formed of a separate piece that issubsequently secured to the frame 105 by fasteners.

Preferred embodiments of the frame include flanges 140 that aregenerally L-shaped, each having two longitudinal members 160, 162approximately perpendicular to one another. However, one of ordinaryskill in the art will readily appreciate that other flangeconfigurations, such as, for example, U-shaped flange configurations,may also be used without departing from the scope of the invention. Theflanges 140 may be made of the same or different material than the frame105. The flanges 140 may also be bonded to the frame 105, or attached tothe frame by fasteners, such as screws and the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the flanges are selectively attachable to theframe to allow the manufacturer to select from a variety of flange sizesand configurations to attach to the frame in order to accommodateinstallation of the frame into consoles of various sizes. As such,another embodiment includes a supply of differently-sized anddifferently-shaped flanges from which a manufacturer may select anappropriate flange for attachment to the frame.

A top surface of longitudinal member 160 of flange 140 has holes 142disposed therethrough through which fasteners, such as screws or nails,may be driven to secure the flange to another object, such as a console.In addition, a side longitudinal member 162 of flange 140 has holes 141disposed therethrough. Holes 141 on side longitudinal member 162correspond to holes (not shown) on the sides 114 of the frame 105. Holes141 and corresponding holes (not shown) on the sides 114 of the frame105 are sized to receive fasteners therethrough.

To install a flat panel display 10 within a frame 105, the rear side 17of the flat panel display 10 is inserted into an appropriately sizedframe 105. The junction housing 22 is seated in the interior of junctionhousing cover 123 such that ports 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 project throughcorresponding holes 124, 126, 128, 130, 132 on the bottom side 154 ofthe junction housing cover 123. Or, if the junction housing cover 123 isformed of a separate piece, the flat panel display is first insertedinto an appropriately sized frame 105 having an opening disposed in theback thereof through which the junction housing 22 may project, and thejunction housing cover 123 is subsequently fitted over the junctionhousing 22 and attached to the back of the frame 105.

Screws may be driven through holes 141 on the side longitudinal members162 of the flanges 140, and through corresponding holes (not shown) onthe sides 114 of the frame 105, thereby securing the frame 105 to theflanges 140. Screws may be driven through hole 146 and correspondinghole (not shown) on the frame side 114 to secure the frame 105 to theflat panel display 10. In the alternative, the flat panel display 10maybe mounted within the frame 105 by way of a mounting bracket (notshown), in which case it is unnecessary to attach the flat panel displayto the frames via fasteners through holes 141.

Once the flat panel display is mounted within the frame and flangeassembly, it may be installed within a console. As best shown in FIG. 7,a console 200 typically includes a housing 202 that supports andpositions the flat panel display and frame assembly 204, and protectsthe electronics (not shown) that are operatively connected to the videodisplay 100. If the console is designed for gaming, it may furtherinclude a mechanism for receiving payment 206.

The video display 100 may be mounted in the console 200 from the eitherthe console interior or exterior. In either case, the console shouldoptimally include an opening 208 sufficient to receive the flat paneldisplay and frame assembly 204, yet sized to allow longitudinal members160 of flanges 140 to contact surfaces adjacent the opening 208. If theassembly 204 is being installed from the interior of the console 200,the longitudinal members 160 of flanges 140 will contact interiorsurfaces (not shown) adjacent the opening 208; likewise, if the assemblyis being installed from the exterior of the console 200, thelongitudinal members 160 of flanges 140 will contact exterior surfacesadjacent the opening 208. Also, in either case, a selection of flange140 size and shape is made prior to installation in order to optimizeinstallation of the flat panel display and frame assembly 204 within aparticular console 200.

To secure the assembly to the console, fasteners are driven throughholes 142 disposed through longitudinal members 160 of the flanges 140,and into the console 200. Thereafter, the flat panel display 100 isoperatively connected to power and data inputs via ports 24, 26, 28, 30,and/or 32 that are projecting through holes 124, 126, 128, 130, and/or132 respectively. To the extent a console 200 is a console having a CRTdisplay and is being retrofitted with a flat panel display and frameassembly 204, the CRT is first removed, then the assembly is installedwithin the console 200 as described herein.

While endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention tothose features of the invention believed to be of particular importanceit should be understood that the Applicants claim protection in respectof any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbeforereferred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particularemphasis has been placed thereon. While the apparatus and method hereindisclosed forms a preferred embodiment of this invention, this inventionis not limited to that specific apparatus and method, and changes can bemade therein without departing from the scope of this invention, whichis defined in the appended claims.

1. A device for mounting a flat panel video display to a console,comprising: a frame adapted to engageably hold a flat panel videodisplay, wherein the frame includes a back panel having a first edge anda second edge, the first edge being opposite the second edge; a firstframe side attached to the first edge; and a first flange selectivelyattached to the first frame side, a surface of the first flange beingadapted to engageably attach to a console.
 2. The device of claim 1,further comprising a flat panel video display disposed within the frame.3. The device of claim 1, further including a supply of selectivelyattachable flanges, wherein at least two flanges in the supply aredifferently sized.
 4. The device of claim 3, further including a supplyof selectively attachable flanges, wherein at least two flanges in thesupply are differently shaped.
 5. The device of claim 1, furthercomprising a second frame side attached to the second edge; and a secondflange selectively attached to the second frame side, a surface of thesecond flange being adapted to engageably attach to an object.
 6. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the back panel includes a third edge and afourth edge, the third edge being opposite the fourth edge, and furthercomprising a third frame side attached to the third edge, and a fourthframe side attached to the fourth edge.
 7. A console assembly,comprising: a console for housing a video display, the console having aplurality of walls, at least one of the plurality of console wallsincluding an opening formed therethrough, the opening being sized todisplay a flat panel video display therethrough; and a frame assemblydisposed proximate the opening, the frame assembly including: a frameadapted to engageably hold a flat panel video display, wherein the frameincludes a back panel having a first edge and a second edge, the firstedge being opposite the second edge; a flat panel video display disposedwithin the frame; a first frame side attached to the first edge; and afirst flange selectively attached to the first frame side, a surface ofthe first flange being adapted to engageably attach to an object, asurface of the first flange being adapted to engageably attach to the atleast one of the plurality of console walls adjacent the opening.
 8. Thedevice of claim 7, further including a supply of selectively attachableflanges, wherein at least two flanges in the supply are differentlysized.
 9. The device of claim 8, further including a supply ofselectively attachable flanges, wherein at least two flanges in thesupply are differently shaped.
 10. The device of claim 7, furthercomprising a second frame side attached to the second edge; and a secondflange selectively attached to the second frame side, a surface of thesecond flange being adapted to engageably attach to an object.
 11. Thedevice of claim 7, wherein the back panel includes a third edge and afourth edge, the third edge being opposite the fourth edge, and furthercomprising a third frame side attached to the third edge, and a fourthframe side attached to the fourth edge.